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Psalms 49

Listen to this, all you peoples. Turn your ear, everyone living in the world — Low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will be understanding. I'll turn my ear to a saying. I'll open up my riddle on the harp.

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Nobody can buy his brother back

Listen to this, all you peoples. Turn your ear, everyone living in the world — Low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will be understanding. I'll turn my ear to a saying. I'll open up my riddle on the harp. Why should I be frightened in the days of trouble, when the wrongdoing of those at my heels surrounds me — Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches — Nobody can redeem his brother or give God the ransom for him — For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceases forever. so that he might live forever and not see corruption. Because he sees that wise men die, and the fool and the brutish man perish together and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places from generation to generation; they call their lands after their own names. But a man in honour doesn't stay. He's like the beasts that perish. That's the way of those who are foolish, and of those after them who go along with what they say. Selah. Like sheep they're laid in the grave. Death will feed on them. And the upright will rule over them in the morning. Their form will wear away in the grave, away from where they lived. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, because he'll take me. Selah. Don't be frightened when a man gets rich, when the glory of his house grows bigger. Because when he dies he'll carry nothing off. His glory won't follow him down. Though while he lived he blessed his own soul — and people will praise you when you do well for yourself — He'll go to the generation of his fathers. They'll never see the light. A man in honour who doesn't understand is like the beasts that perish.

Listen to this, all you peoples. Turn your ear, everyone living in the world — low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth will speak wisdom, and what my heart thinks over will be understanding. I'll turn my ear to a saying. I'll open up my riddle on the harp. Why should I be frightened in the bad days, when the wrongdoing of the ones at my heels surrounds me — the ones who trust in their wealth and boast about the size of their riches? Nobody can buy his brother back or give God the price for him — because buying their soul back is dear, and it can never be done — so he'd live forever and never see the pit. Because he sees that wise men die, and the fool and the thick man are finished together and leave their wealth to others. Inside them they reckon their houses will last forever and where they live from one generation to the next. They name lands after themselves. But a man in honour doesn't stay. He's like the animals that get finished off. That's the way of the ones who are stupid in their own eyes, and of the ones after them who go along with what they say. Like sheep they're laid in the grave. Death will feed on them. And the upright will rule over them in the morning. Their form will wear away in the grave, away from where they lived. But God will buy my soul back from the power of the grave, because he'll take me. Don't be frightened when a man gets rich, when the glory of his house grows bigger. Because when he dies he'll carry nothing off. His glory won't go down after him. Though he blessed his own soul while he was alive — and people will speak well of you when you do well for yourself — he'll go to the generation of his fathers. They'll never see the light. A man in honour who doesn't understand is like the animals that get finished off.

Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: Both low and high, rich and poor, together. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp. Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about? They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

1

Listen to this, all you peoples. Turn your ear, everyone living in the world —

King James Version, 1611

Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

2

Low and high, rich and poor together.

Plain English

low and high, rich and poor together.

King James Version, 1611

Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

3

My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will be understanding.

Plain English

My mouth will speak wisdom, and what my heart thinks over will be understanding.

King James Version, 1611

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

4

I'll turn my ear to a saying. I'll open up my riddle on the harp.

King James Version, 1611

I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

5

Why should I be frightened in the days of trouble, when the wrongdoing of those at my heels surrounds me —

Plain English

Why should I be frightened in the bad days, when the wrongdoing of the ones at my heels surrounds me —

King James Version, 1611

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

6

Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches —

Plain English

the ones who trust in their wealth and boast about the size of their riches?

King James Version, 1611

They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

7

Nobody can redeem his brother or give God the ransom for him —

Plain English

Nobody can buy his brother back or give God the price for him —

King James Version, 1611

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

8

For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceases forever.

Plain English

because buying their soul back is dear, and it can never be done —

King James Version, 1611

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

9

so that he might live forever and not see corruption.

Plain English

so he'd live forever and never see the pit.

King James Version, 1611

That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

10

Because he sees that wise men die, and the fool and the brutish man perish together and leave their wealth to others.

Plain English

Because he sees that wise men die, and the fool and the thick man are finished together and leave their wealth to others.

King James Version, 1611

For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

11

Their inward thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places from generation to generation; they call their lands after their own names.

Plain English

Inside them they reckon their houses will last forever and where they live from one generation to the next. They name lands after themselves.

King James Version, 1611

Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

12

But a man in honour doesn't stay. He's like the beasts that perish.

Plain English

But a man in honour doesn't stay. He's like the animals that get finished off.

King James Version, 1611

Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

13

That's the way of those who are foolish, and of those after them who go along with what they say. Selah.

Plain English

That's the way of the ones who are stupid in their own eyes, and of the ones after them who go along with what they say.

King James Version, 1611

This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

14

Like sheep they're laid in the grave. Death will feed on them. And the upright will rule over them in the morning. Their form will wear away in the grave, away from where they lived.

King James Version, 1611

Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

15

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, because he'll take me. Selah.

Plain English

But God will buy my soul back from the power of the grave, because he'll take me.

King James Version, 1611

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

16

Don't be frightened when a man gets rich, when the glory of his house grows bigger.

King James Version, 1611

Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

17

Because when he dies he'll carry nothing off. His glory won't follow him down.

Plain English

Because when he dies he'll carry nothing off. His glory won't go down after him.

King James Version, 1611

For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

18

Though while he lived he blessed his own soul — and people will praise you when you do well for yourself —

Plain English

Though he blessed his own soul while he was alive — and people will speak well of you when you do well for yourself —

King James Version, 1611

Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

19

He'll go to the generation of his fathers. They'll never see the light.

Plain English

he'll go to the generation of his fathers. They'll never see the light.

King James Version, 1611

He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

20

A man in honour who doesn't understand is like the beasts that perish.

Plain English

A man in honour who doesn't understand is like the animals that get finished off.

King James Version, 1611

Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.